We are doing science for policy

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is the European Commission's science and knowledge service which employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to EU policy.

Research

Our scientific work supports a whole host of EU policies in a variety of areas from agriculture and food security, to environment and climate change, as well as nuclear safety and security and innovation and growth.

Our research topics give a deeper insight into that support of EU policy, while you can also discover the unique laboratories and facilities where our scientists work.

News & Events

Our news gives you an insight into our support of EU policy and highlights the scientific research carried out everyday within the European Commission.

You can also sign up for our monthly newsletter for all the latest information directly to your inbox and check out our events for opportunities to participate. Or check out our photos and videos for an instant look at the world of science at the European Commission.

European TTO circle A network of the Technology Transfer offices of the largest public research organisations in Europe

Sharing scientific knowledge across boundaries

Our communities bring together individuals interested in sharing scientific knowledge and experiences and to exchange ideas and learning, with the aim to better serve and inform EU policy and the citizen.

Each community is governed individually and membership requests are dealt with by the moderator. Some areas are restricted.

Research Topics

Aviation security refers to the prevention of acts of unlawful interference against civil aviation, such as seizure of an aircraft or placing a hazardous device onboard an aircraft. The JRC contributes to aviation security by providing scientific and technical support and advice to policy makers on aspects of measurements, testing and standardisation.

The JRC establishes best environmental management practices (BEMPs) of organisations in order to produce Sectoral Reference Documents (SRDs) which are then used by industry and organisations and helps the implementation of the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).

The JRC aims to provide independent scientific advice related to the production and use of biofuels.

The JRC’s scientific activities on bioenergy and biofuels span from a vast array of analyses in different areas to the testing of the biofuels sustainability. It includes topics such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emission savings, direct and indirect effects of land-use change, the overall availability of other primary energy sources or the most suitable and efficient production and transformation technologies.

While the share of renewable power generation is increasing, fossil fuels are expected to continue playing an important role in Europe in the short and medium term. CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion in power generation contribute to approximately 30% at EU level. Moreover, process industries like cement, iron and steel, aluminium, pulp and paper, and refineries, have inherent CO2 emissions resulting from raw material conversion.

In the fields of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) hazards, and explosives detection, the JRC provides scientific/technical support to Commission services on measurement and standardisation, based on specific expertise in measurement and testing - in chemistry, physics, analytical sciences, measurement technologies and standardisation.

The European Clearinghouse initiative on Nuclear Power Plants Operational Experience Feedback (“EU Clearinghouse”) has been set up in support of EU nuclear safety authorities, EU technical support organisations, international organisations and the broader nuclear community. Its purpose is to enhance nuclear safety through the lessons learned from operational experience.